Feather

Feathers are the funny-looking things that grow out of birds. They're like really thin leaves that birds use to fly, keep warm, or show off how pretty they are! Feathers are made of a material called keratin, which is also found in our hair and nails.

Feathers come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Some are big and fluffy to help birds fly, like the ones you see on an eagle or an owl. Other feathers are thin and sleek, like the ones on a hummingbird or a sparrow.

Birds use their feathers to do lots of different things. They can use them to steer when they're flying, like a rudder on a boat. They can also use them to keep warm in cold weather, kind of like a jacket or a blanket. Some feathers can even change color depending on how the light hits them, which can make birds look really fancy!

Feathers are really important to birds and help them do all sorts of amazing things. But they're also really cool to look at and study, especially when they're on display at a museum or in a bird-watching book!